Liverpool XI vs Nottingham Forest: Iraola's Anfield Era Begins

Anfield opens its doors for the first time this season with a familiar knot of tension in the air. Liverpool are back home, but the visitors know the way out with three points in their pockets. Nottingham Forest have won on their last two trips to this ground. Their new head coach, Oliver Glasner, also turned Liverpool over twice last season while in charge of Crystal Palace.

Now he walks out at Anfield again, armed with a record that will not have gone unnoticed on the Kop.

Across the technical area stands Andoni Iraola, taking charge of his first home league game as Liverpool manager. The welcome will be warm. The expectations, fiercer still.

Team News: Key Absences and Selection Calls

Liverpool arrive at this one already patched up in key areas.

Joe Gomez misses out once more as he continues to recover from the hamstring injury that disrupted his pre-season. The defensive options are further thinned by the ongoing absences of Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, both sidelined with long-term problems.

Higher up the pitch, Hugo Ekitike remains unavailable and is not expected back until after Christmas due to an achilles injury, robbing Iraola of a forward option for the foreseeable future.

Federico Chiesa is still a doubt after sitting out last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle United. Even if he proves his fitness, competition for a place in the matchday squad is fierce and his involvement is far from guaranteed.

Harvey Elliott will play no part. The midfielder is left out of the squad as he moves closer to an exit from the club, another indication of the changing landscape under the new regime.

Liverpool’s Confirmed XI

Iraola’s first Anfield lineup is bold and attacking:

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo, Munoz, Isak.

Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Araujo, Tsimikas, Endo, Gravenberch, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha.

Virgil van Dijk anchors a back line that features Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez in the full-back roles, with young defender Jacquet handed a major responsibility in the heart of defence.

In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are joined by Florian Wirtz in a trio built for control and incision rather than caution. Ahead of them, Cody Gakpo, Munoz and Alexander Isak form an attacking unit that carries goals, movement and plenty of intrigue.

Liverpool know what Forest and Glasner have done to them before. The scars are fresh.

Now Iraola’s first Anfield selection has to show this is a different Liverpool, or the old story might repeat itself yet again.